We reported last week that according to an industry insider, Microsoft was in talks to purchase at least a portion of Nokia’s business. Both companies denied the report, with Nokia’s CEO Stephen Elop calling the rumors “baseless”. Samsung Electronics, however, is the latest company rumored to be making a bid for Nokia, The Wall Street Journal is reporting. When reached for comment, Samsung wouldn’t speak on the rumors. Nokia also had no comment. Regarding the Nokia rumor, BGR spoke with Eldar Murtzain, who originally reported the Microsoft and Nokia news, and he indicated that Nokia wanted more money than Microsoft was offering ($28 billion instead of $19 billion). More →

According to industry insider Eldar Murtazin, Nokia is set to begin discussing the possibility selling its cell phone business to Microsoft. The blogger, who has a proven track record of disseminating accurate intel, says negotiations will begin next week and the results will not immediately be made public. If the two giants do work out a sale, however, it could close before the end of 2011. According to Murtazin, “both companies are in a big hurry.” The idea seems like a bit of a stretch, but some believed Nokia CEO Stephen Elop was brought on board for this very reason — an idea that seemed far fetched at the time. And let’s not forget, Nokia was founded in the 1800s as a paper company and it shifted gears several times before building its first cell phone, so a change in direction would certainly be in line with the company’s heritage.

UPDATE: Nokia spokesman Mark Squires posted the following on Twitter: “We typically don’t comment on rumors. But we have to say that Eldar’s rumors are getting obviously less accurate with every passing moment.” More →